Treatment Progress of Common TCM Syndromes in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Journal: Journal of Clinical Medicine Research DOI: 10.32629/jcmr.v7i2.5328
Abstract
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practice, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is usually categorized as “chuan zheng” (wheeze/asthma) and “fei zhang” (lung distension). Syndrome differentiation and stage-based TCM treatment offer advantages in COPD management. This review analyzes etiologies and pathomechanisms of common TCM syndrome patterns across COPD stages (stable phase and acute exacerbation) and summarizes therapeutic principles and representative formulas used clinically for eight main syndrome types.
Keywords
COPD; Traditional Chinese Medicine; STCM syndromes; TCM treatment
Full Text
PDF - Viewed/Downloaded: 5 TimesReferences
[1] WHO. Mortality and global health estimates [EB/OL]. [2020-11-21]. https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/mortality-and-global-health-estimates.
[2] Li Z, Zhang X, Chen Y, et al. Interpretation of the 2020 GOLD guideline — stable phase pharmacologic management. Chin J Gen Pract. 2021;24(08):923–929.
[3] Tuerhenai Reahmjiang, Li F, Jing J. Progress in TCM internal therapies for COPD. Zhongwai Med Res. 2025;23(08):164–167. doi:10.14033/j.cnki.cfmr.2025.08.043.
[4] Dong G, Wang G, Hu F. Advances and review of integrated TCM–WM diagnosis and treatment for COPD. J Jiangxi Univ Tradit Chin Med. 2024;36(05):112–116+124. doi:10.20140/j.2095-7785.2024.05.29.
[5] Lian P, Fan X, Guo Y. Effect analysis of TCM syndrome differentiation treatment for COPD. Shenzhen Integrative Med J. 2016;26(14):60–61. doi:10.16458/j.cnki.1007-0893.2016.14.030.
[6] Huangdi Neijing (Ling Shu). Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House; 1963.
[7] Sui Q, Zhao K. Essentials of etiology and pathomechanism of chuan–fei zhang. Pract J Tradit Chin Intern Med. 2024;38(04):26–29. doi:10.13729/j.issn.1671-7813.Z20230294.
[8] Zhou X. Progress in TCM treatment of COPD. Contemporary Med Essays. 2018;16(05):38–39.
[9] Li J, Wang Z, Li S, et al. Establishment of syndrome diagnostic criteria for stable-phase COPD. Liaoning J Tradit Chin Med. 2012;39(07):1199–1202. doi:10.13192/j.ljtcm.2012.07.6.lijsh.008.
[10] Li J, Wang Z, Yu X, et al. Establishment of syndrome diagnostic criteria for acute exacerbation of COPD. Chin J Tradit Chin Med. 2010;25(07):971–975.
[11] Wang Y, Jiang Y. Clinical study of Liu Junzi Tang for lung–spleen qi deficiency in stable COPD. New Chin Med. 2024;56(05):26–30. doi:10.13457/j.cnki.jncm.2024.05.006.
[12] Li Z. Yisheng Weilun—On the Origin of Transformation.
[13] Zheng L. Clinical efficacy observation of Liu Junzi Tang in stable COPD with lung–spleen deficiency [dissertation]. Chengdu Univ TCM; 2013.
[14] Suwen: On Assessing Deficiency and Excess; Zhoubing Yuanhou Lun.
[15] Principle of tonifying lung and benefiting qi (classical TCM principle).
[16] Shenqi Bu Fei Tang related clinical reports and dissertations.
[17] Zheng X. Lung qi deficiency treatment progress. Shanxi Tradit Chin Med. 2022;38(11):66–68. doi:10.20002/j.issn.1000-7156.2022.11.025.
[18] Ming C. Clinical efficacy observation of Pingchuan Guben Tang for COPD (lung–kidney qi deficiency) [dissertation]. Guangxi Univ TCM; 2021.
[19] Liu W. Effects of Pingchuan Guben Tang combined with Bufei Tang on immune function in lung–kidney qi deficiency COPD patients [dissertation]. Zhejiang Univ; 2014.
[20] Guo C. Clinical observation of modified Shengmai–Dihuang Tang for stable COPD (lung–kidney qi–yin deficiency) [dissertation]. Hunan Univ TCM; 2023. doi:10.27138/d.cnki.ghuzc.2023.000561.
[21] Yixue Qiyuan (Medical Origin).
[22] Qian Y. Xiaoyi Yaowen Zhijue (Straightforward Instructions on Pediatric Medicine).
[23] Li M, Li G, Jiang S. Clinical observation of Ning Sou Hua Tan Tang for AECOPD (wind–cold attacking the lung). Chin J Emerg TCM. 2024;33(04):678–680.
[24] Zheng X. Clinical efficacy of Xiao Qing Long Tang for AECOPD (exterior cold with internal fluid) [dissertation]. Chengdu Univ TCM; 2019. doi:10.26988/d.cnki.gcdzu.2019.000681.
[25] Liu J, Chen X, Kuang Y, et al. Clinical observation of Yue Bi Jia Banxia Tang for phlegm–heat obstructing the lung in COPD. Basic TCM. 2024;3(07):30–35. doi:10.20065/j.cnki.btcm.20240138.
[26] Wang Y. Analysis of Sangbaipi Tang in AECOPD (phlegm–heat) patients. Clin Med Lit Electron J. 2020;7(18):171+182. doi:10.16281/j.cnki.jocml.2020.18.137.
[27] Chen B, Zhou Y, Fu H, et al. Er Chen Tang combined with Sanzi Yangqin Tang for COPD (phlegm–damp): effects on pulmonary function, IFN-γ and ET‑1. Chin J Tradit Chin Med. 2024;42(01):230–233. doi:10.13193/j.issn.1673-7717.2024.01.043.
[28] Du Q, Tang Y, Li L, et al. Clinical experience excerpt of Professor Tang Yuanshan applying the harmonizing method. Shaanxi Tradit Chin Med. 2021;42(07):944–947.
[2] Li Z, Zhang X, Chen Y, et al. Interpretation of the 2020 GOLD guideline — stable phase pharmacologic management. Chin J Gen Pract. 2021;24(08):923–929.
[3] Tuerhenai Reahmjiang, Li F, Jing J. Progress in TCM internal therapies for COPD. Zhongwai Med Res. 2025;23(08):164–167. doi:10.14033/j.cnki.cfmr.2025.08.043.
[4] Dong G, Wang G, Hu F. Advances and review of integrated TCM–WM diagnosis and treatment for COPD. J Jiangxi Univ Tradit Chin Med. 2024;36(05):112–116+124. doi:10.20140/j.2095-7785.2024.05.29.
[5] Lian P, Fan X, Guo Y. Effect analysis of TCM syndrome differentiation treatment for COPD. Shenzhen Integrative Med J. 2016;26(14):60–61. doi:10.16458/j.cnki.1007-0893.2016.14.030.
[6] Huangdi Neijing (Ling Shu). Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House; 1963.
[7] Sui Q, Zhao K. Essentials of etiology and pathomechanism of chuan–fei zhang. Pract J Tradit Chin Intern Med. 2024;38(04):26–29. doi:10.13729/j.issn.1671-7813.Z20230294.
[8] Zhou X. Progress in TCM treatment of COPD. Contemporary Med Essays. 2018;16(05):38–39.
[9] Li J, Wang Z, Li S, et al. Establishment of syndrome diagnostic criteria for stable-phase COPD. Liaoning J Tradit Chin Med. 2012;39(07):1199–1202. doi:10.13192/j.ljtcm.2012.07.6.lijsh.008.
[10] Li J, Wang Z, Yu X, et al. Establishment of syndrome diagnostic criteria for acute exacerbation of COPD. Chin J Tradit Chin Med. 2010;25(07):971–975.
[11] Wang Y, Jiang Y. Clinical study of Liu Junzi Tang for lung–spleen qi deficiency in stable COPD. New Chin Med. 2024;56(05):26–30. doi:10.13457/j.cnki.jncm.2024.05.006.
[12] Li Z. Yisheng Weilun—On the Origin of Transformation.
[13] Zheng L. Clinical efficacy observation of Liu Junzi Tang in stable COPD with lung–spleen deficiency [dissertation]. Chengdu Univ TCM; 2013.
[14] Suwen: On Assessing Deficiency and Excess; Zhoubing Yuanhou Lun.
[15] Principle of tonifying lung and benefiting qi (classical TCM principle).
[16] Shenqi Bu Fei Tang related clinical reports and dissertations.
[17] Zheng X. Lung qi deficiency treatment progress. Shanxi Tradit Chin Med. 2022;38(11):66–68. doi:10.20002/j.issn.1000-7156.2022.11.025.
[18] Ming C. Clinical efficacy observation of Pingchuan Guben Tang for COPD (lung–kidney qi deficiency) [dissertation]. Guangxi Univ TCM; 2021.
[19] Liu W. Effects of Pingchuan Guben Tang combined with Bufei Tang on immune function in lung–kidney qi deficiency COPD patients [dissertation]. Zhejiang Univ; 2014.
[20] Guo C. Clinical observation of modified Shengmai–Dihuang Tang for stable COPD (lung–kidney qi–yin deficiency) [dissertation]. Hunan Univ TCM; 2023. doi:10.27138/d.cnki.ghuzc.2023.000561.
[21] Yixue Qiyuan (Medical Origin).
[22] Qian Y. Xiaoyi Yaowen Zhijue (Straightforward Instructions on Pediatric Medicine).
[23] Li M, Li G, Jiang S. Clinical observation of Ning Sou Hua Tan Tang for AECOPD (wind–cold attacking the lung). Chin J Emerg TCM. 2024;33(04):678–680.
[24] Zheng X. Clinical efficacy of Xiao Qing Long Tang for AECOPD (exterior cold with internal fluid) [dissertation]. Chengdu Univ TCM; 2019. doi:10.26988/d.cnki.gcdzu.2019.000681.
[25] Liu J, Chen X, Kuang Y, et al. Clinical observation of Yue Bi Jia Banxia Tang for phlegm–heat obstructing the lung in COPD. Basic TCM. 2024;3(07):30–35. doi:10.20065/j.cnki.btcm.20240138.
[26] Wang Y. Analysis of Sangbaipi Tang in AECOPD (phlegm–heat) patients. Clin Med Lit Electron J. 2020;7(18):171+182. doi:10.16281/j.cnki.jocml.2020.18.137.
[27] Chen B, Zhou Y, Fu H, et al. Er Chen Tang combined with Sanzi Yangqin Tang for COPD (phlegm–damp): effects on pulmonary function, IFN-γ and ET‑1. Chin J Tradit Chin Med. 2024;42(01):230–233. doi:10.13193/j.issn.1673-7717.2024.01.043.
[28] Du Q, Tang Y, Li L, et al. Clinical experience excerpt of Professor Tang Yuanshan applying the harmonizing method. Shaanxi Tradit Chin Med. 2021;42(07):944–947.
Copyright © 2026 Ru Yang, Yuanshan Tang
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License